The former ‘Home Improvement’ stars will join forces again on the new History channel series ‘Assembly Required’
Tim Allen and Richard Karn — reunited at long last.
The former stars of “Home Improvement” are joining forces again on a new unscripted series for the History channel.
Currently titled “Assembly Required,” the new series will star Tim Allen and be hosted by Richard Karn, Variety reported. It will be a competition series showcasing builders across the U.S. “as they compete to breathe new life into everyday household items in desperate need of fixing.”
At the virtual Edinburgh International TV Festival, A+E Networks President of Programming Rob Sharenow described the show’s format as “Forged in Fire” for mechanical building, Deadline reported. Sharenow also said some the network’s established formats, like “American Pickers” and “Pawn Stars,” may be ending soon. New series like “Assembly Required” may step in to fill the void. “Assembly Required” has an initial order of 10 episodes.
“I think we’ve had so many highly successful formats that we’ve grown a little fat on them,” Sharenow said, “and some of them could be sidled out and we need to replace some of those heavy hitters with new formats and that’s a big priority for us.”
Can Allen and Karn revive their old “Home Improvement”/“Tool Time” magic? The History channel hopes so. “Home Improvement” ran on ABC from 1991 through 1999, spanning more than 200 episodes, and was among America’s most popular sitcoms. In the show, Allen starred as Tim “the tool man” Taylor, a handyman who co-hosted a home improvement TV show called “Tool Time” with Al Borland, (played by Karn).
“Let’s face it, we’re living in a throwaway society,” Allen said in a statement. “We buy, break, replace… rinse and repeat. Whatever happened to repair and rebuild?! There are some people who unfriend, unfollow and dispose of anything that offends, annoys or breaks — so I’ve created a show to remind people of the satisfaction and pride that comes from rebuilding something on their own. And who better to join me than my buddy from the old Tool Time days — Richard Karn! Now we’re talking More Power!”
